The Busy Month of March – including the last day of February – Part I

 

For over a year, The Gena Branscombe Project had been developing a concert that honored the first women composers who in 1924 were invited to join the National League of American Pen Women.  Identifying the composers, researching their works, making a list of titles, finding a theme for the program, then slowly choosing which pieces would form the  program may seem tedious, yet, “Winds of Change, Songs of Time: The Musical Legacy of the National League of American Pen Women”  was a success.

With many thanks to Board member Regan Russell for creating a program celebrating the four seasons which featured 10 woman composers who were among the first to join the Pen Women and we included one 21^st century composer was genius!  Again, thank you, Regan!

On February 28^th, “Winds of Change, Songs of Time: The Musical Legacy of the National League of American Pen Women” was performed at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. 

With performances by pianist Julian Gau, soprano Jessica Bloch, pianist Nelson Ojeda Valdes, Kelsey Philbrick, violin and David Newtown, cello, the audience was gifted music composed by women composers from over 100 years ago.  A piano trio, chamber music with singer, art songs, cello, violin and piano solos composed by the likes of Mary Howe, Ulric Cole, Amy Beach, Pearl Curran, Mary Turner Salter, Ethel Glen Hier, Harriet Ware and Nancy Deussen were performed proving without a doubt that women composed music of high quality!  

We were honored to have Melissa Wertheimer from the Library of Congress narrate the concert putting into historic context what these women encountered in their era.  Thank you, Melissa.

On Monday, March 16^th this same concert was performed at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston with Jessica Bloch, Julian Gau, Aija Reke, violin and Linda Hwang, cello. 

Looking back to 1924 when these women composers were invited to join the National League of American Pen Women, they had only four years earlier earned the right to vote, they were members of women’s clubs where their music was performed.  Their music was published and earned them royalties.  They were considered second class citizens in the classical music world.  Our concert proved that thought wrong.  We opened people’s minds, ears and hearts to beautiful music …. music composed by women over 100 years ago!

 

#BringingBackBranscombe